6.30.2009

Just when I thought we were wrapping up the guest announcements for Otakon this year, I was pleasantly mistaken. We've got not one, not two, but three, count them...THREE more guests to announce!!!

First up -- director, producer, and president of Artland, Noboru Ishiguro will make his first visit to Otakon. As a director, some of his notable titles are Space Battleship Yamato (first series and first two movies), Macross (original TV series and Do You Remember Love), Megazone 23, Legend of the Galactic Heroes, and Tytania. Ishiguro wrote the story for Megazone 23, based on his personal experience: having witnessed how easily the government mechanism can make the public believe distorted truths and motivate them into war. Ishiguro founded his studio, Artland, and still runs it as president after its acquisition by Marvelous Entertainment.

If that wasn't good enough, let's add Matsubara to the mix. Character designer, illustrator and animator Hidenori Matsubara, perhaps best known for his character design work on the Oh My Goddess! OAV series and the Sakura Wars games, will be a guest at Otakon 2009. As a young and hungry animator, Matsubara worked as an in-betweener on the Project A-Ko movies. From there, he served as an animator on Bubblegum Crisis and Gunbuster. Graduating to animation director for Nadia: Secret of Blue Water, he completed the opening animation for Bubblegum Crash, and then served as animation director on Otaku no Video (the inspiration for Otakon). Other credits in this period include work as an animator on Perfect Blue, Gunsmith Cats, and the original Neon Genesis Evangelion series. For the Oh My Goddess! series (and later for the movie), Matsubara served as character designer and chief animation director; more recently, he was character designer for The Count of Monte Cristo. He also served as the character designer of the hit game series Sakura Wars. Currently, Matsubara is working under Hideaki Anno as an animator and animation director on the new series of Evangelion movies.

And to round up the last of this triad of announcements, Otakon brings us Yukio Kikukawa. Producer Yukio Kikukawa has invested over a decade of his career producing the 162 episodes and three features of the epic Legend of the Galactic Heroes. His most recently producers the 26-episode series Tytania, another space opera based on the books by LoGH author Yoshiki Tanaka. As a rare member of the Japanese anime industry from an American-style fandom background (a science-fiction convention-goer), he achieved the status of alpha fan when he chaired Anime Expo Tokyo in 2004. [Source: Otakon]

6.29.2009

Attention all fellow East Coast inhabitants - get ready for some major sulking at your own despair a la "Zetsubou-Sensei." According to the L.A. Times, Hayao Miyazaki will appear for the first time at San Diego's Comic Con International next month!

As reported earlier, Miyazaki will be at Berkeley to accept the second annual Berkeley Japan Prize and participate in a moderated discussion. Adding SDCC to his schedule is sure to have the fans squealing. Miyazaki will show clips from his latest film, Ponyo, at the convention. [Source: ANN]

Each group of songs takes a drastically different approach with equally memorable results. Ever think you'd hear the theme from Evangelion done as a punk rock anthem (ANIPUNK), a stylized house remix (WCDA) of Space Battleship Yamato, a trance remix of the theme to Lucky Star (ANIME MANIA) or a sophisticated jazz version of Ghibli classics (Michio Noguchi Quartet)?

"The response has been overwhelming" says HearJapan president Nathan Reaven, "these albums take Anime songs to new heights by spicing up the music to appeal to old and new fans of these classics alike".

Individual tracks are priced at 150 yen each (about $1.50 US), full albums are discounted.

6.20.2009

Norwalk, CT, June 19, 2009: The New York Anime Festival (NYAF) today announced that legendary Japanese director Yoshiyuki Tomino will attend its 2009 event as a Guest of Honor. The 2009 New York Anime Festival, an anime, manga, and Japanese pop culture convention from the creators of New York Comic Con, will take place September 25-27, 2009 at the Jacob K. Javits Center in Manhattan. Mr. Tomino's most prolific work, Mobile Suit Gundam, premiered in 1979, and he will appear at the New York Anime Festival to sign autographs and speak about his history, philosophy, and experiences connected with Gundam's 30-year history.

Yoshiyuki Tomino, born November 5, 1941 in Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture in Japan, began his animation career at Mushi Productions where he scripted and storyboarded the classic anime series Astro Boy. Going on to direct, Mr. Tomino has overseen numerous series including Aura Battler Dunbine, Brain Power’d, Overman King Gainer, and The Wings of Rean. His longest-lasting legacy is Mobile Suit Gundam, a genre-breaking series first broadcast in 1979, which is noted for defining the current realistic portrayal of robots in Japanese animation. The original Mobile Suit Gundam series has been followed by numerous sequels and spin-offs, and the saga continues today with its latest entry -- Mobile Suit Gundam UC (Unicorn) -- debuting this winter in Japan.

"The New York Anime Festival is honored to welcome one of the legends of Japanese animation," NYAF Show Manager Lance Fensterman said. "There is now a generation that's been born and raised with Gundam, and we very much want to bring Mr. Tomino and these American fans together to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of his iconic series."

To join in Gundam's 30th Anniversary celebration, Anime News Network -- the largest anime news website in the world -- has published a new interview with Mr. Tomino simultaneously with this announcement. When asked by Anime News Network if he had a message for his American fans, Mr. Tomino said, "I only have feelings of gratitude in my heart towards fans that have taken an interest in my works, even if just for a moment. I am truly grateful. So, as long as I can create works, I hope to invoke that sense of realism through anime and similar visual and expressive media. I believe that the symbolic expressive abilities of anime will always present new opportunities, so I look forward to what the younger generation will produce." [Source: ANN]

6.19.2009

6.18.2009

Japanese singer MELL, whose music is described alternately as J-pop, trance and techno and who has recorded several anime theme songs, will be a guest at Otakon 2009.

MELL shot to fame as one of the main vocalists of the group I'VE Sound, a Japanese techno/trance music production group known for distorted grooves. With her debut single release of "Red Fraction," from her 2008 album Mellscope, MELL's fascinating voice brought her renown in Japan's music industry. Her superb stage performances and deep passion for the music drew enthusiastic audiences, making her accompanying tour of Japan an instant success.With her second smash hit, "Proof," she expanded the dark image associated with her first single, demonstrating motherly kindness in her voice, and appealing to a wide range of ages.

MELL was the first singer to work with Kazuya Takase and Yasutaka Ipposhi, the founders of I'VE Sound, even before they created their label. The production group eventually featured the talents of fellow vocalists KOTOKO, Mami Kawada, Eiko Shimamiya, and Kaoru Utatsuki and created the theme songs for many anime series. MELL's characteristic vocals, combined with Kazuya's arrangements, formed a fresh sound that fans would love in MELL's theme songs for Black Lagoon, Hayate the Combat Butler, Sky Girls, Kiru: Kill and Rideback. For more information, visit the official I'VE Sound site: http://iveusa.net/. The official MELL site: http://www.myspace.com/mellusa

6.17.2009

The all female mangaka group CLAMP is designing special console exclusive costumes for the home release of TEKKEN 6. The special costume is for Jin Kazama and is in this week’s issue of Famitsu. Jin looks hot CLAMP-style! [Source: SD Tekken]

6.16.2009

Baltimore, MD (June 16, 2009) – VAMPS, featuring HYDE and K.A.Z, have added a special appearance at Otakon 2009 to their busy tour schedule. The duo had already announced a special concert in Baltimore on Thursday, 16 July 2009, to coincide with Otakon.

Originally, HYDE and K.A.Z were to depart early Friday for their next concert, meaning they would not be available for any convention appearances. Otakon had arranged for members to submit questions for the band, and the original plan was to answer them via video, and show the video at the convention. However, the groundswell of support from Otakon's membership led the band to reconsider, and in the end VAMPS decided a more personal response was warranted.

"I guess we must have made a good impression on HYDE a few years ago," said Jim Vowles, Otakon's head of Guests, Industry, and Press Relations, referring to HYDE's appearance with L'Arc~en~Ciel in 2004.

"We were delighted to find that he and K.A.Z were interested in working Otakon into their tour. We were able to work out a special pre-Otakon appearance and a bit of cross promotion. When the responses started coming in, I guess everyone got excited. We're delighted and flattered that they changed plans to meet the fans."

Exclusively for Otakon members, VAMPS will give out special passes at their SONAR show on Thursday. These passes will grant priority access to the band's panel and autograph sessions at Otakon on Friday afternoon. (You must be registered for Otakon to attend the panel and autograph sessions.)

Otakon also plans to make special arrangements for pre-registration pickup on Thursday to allow concert ticket holders to pick up their Otakon badges early without missing the concert. (Otakon allows pre-registered members to pick up their badges Thursday evening, prior to the convention.) Details will be posted on the Otakon Web site in the coming weeks.

VAMPS will appear at Baltimore's SONAR on 16 July 2009. The autograph session and Q&A panel will take place on Friday afternoon, 17 July 2009, at the Baltimore Convention Center. For ticket information for the SONAR concert, please visit http://www.vampsliveusa.com/

6.15.2009

Otakon has announced that director Yutaka Yamamoto will appear as a Guest of Honor at the July 17-19 event in Baltimore, Maryland. Excitement! His bio can be found below.

Director and animator Yutaka Yamamoto was born in Osaka, Japan in 1974. After graduating from Kyoto University's Literature Department, he worked for Kyoto Animation and then Animation Do, eventually starting his own independent studio, Ordet. He's known for his detailed direction, and his use of live-action film techniques.

Yamamoto has worked as an animator, storyboard artist, and episode director on several anime TV series including Hare+Guu, Atashinchi, Full Metal Panic?Fumoffu, and AIR. In 2006, Yamamoto served as series director and writer for the smash hit The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya.

After stepping up to full directorial duties with 2007's Lucky Star, his most recent work is Kannagi: Crazy Shrine Maidens.

6.12.2009

The 18-meter-tall 1:1 Scale Gundam statue is near completion for its July unveiling. The "life-size" RX78 Gundam will be available for free public viewing for 2 months at the Shiokaze Park on Tokyo's artificial Odaiba Island.

Check out these incredible photos here. And beautiful photos by night care of DannyChoo. This begs the question: where can I get one? (^_^)

6.11.2009

The Sims 3 for the iPhone/Touch shows that a PC application can be adapted successfully to a handheld. Though not a direct replica of the PC game, The Sims 3 for iPhone is entertaining and fulfilling in its own way. I was pleasantly surprised and satisfied with the game's solid performance. The loading times were stellar and gameplay is great. With just your fingers, you can zoom in and out, pan left and right, and even change your angle of view. Moving objects is just as easy. As you navigate through the town and neighborhood, I especially liked the way the Sim actually "walked" to and from an area, rather than being teleported automatically. However, as you walk you are shown as a general yellow or blue figure rather than an accurate view of your Sim. Bet that as it may, you can walk to someone's house, and knock on their door. So it's a nice touch.

But let's start from the beginning. As with any Sim game, you must first creat your Sim. Choose your gender and your general appearance, as well as your personality. What goals and wants you will need to fulfill throughout the game is dependent on your personality traits, so choose carefully. You start your life in a quaint house with a few essentials. And as you work and grant your wishes, you can continue to expand your house and social life. You will still need to maintain your Sim's hunger, cleanliness, and mood. There's a good amount of activities including fishing that will have you playing for hours. Even cooking meals is Cooking Mama-like in some respects.

The Sims 3 for the iPhone/Touch is a nice game on its own and I would recommend it for any Sim fan. It's a great way to get your Sim fix while your on the go. You will immediately see that the iPhone adaptation wasn't just an after-thought.

6.10.2009

According to Frank Marshall, one of the producers for the U.S. release of Hayao Miyazaki's latest film "Ponyo," the movie "will be opening on 800 screens in August, by far the biggest opening for a Miyazaki film…." He had previously revealed that the American Ponyo trailer will premiere during the 4th of July weekend. The film itself will open on August 14 after advance screenings in Los Angeles and Berkeley, California.

An another note, Samuel Goldwyn Films revealed 11 of the theaters where Chris Nohan's live-action film adaptation of Production I.G's Blood: The Last Vampire anime will open on July 10. The film will play in the American cities of Berkeley, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Chicago, Cambridge, Dallas, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. [Source: ANN]

6.09.2009

Here cometh forth the official sequel we've been waiting years for of what could easily be the ultimate fan-favorite in the Metal Gear universe. Hold on to your hats fans for "Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater's" direct sequel coming to the PSP. Enter "Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker." The trailer presented at the Sony press conference has an added treat of humor care of Kojima. Peace Walker is due out in 2010.

Next up, is a first look at "Metal Gear Arcade" Tactical Online Action, announced at the Konami press conference. Those involved include Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima and his studio Kojima Productions. It was also stated that the game uses "3D goggles." The game will be out in Japan later this year. [Source: Kotaku]

6.08.2009

Chiptune is a style of music defined by its use of relatively simple synth 8-bit synth sounds popularized by early video game music. This release is unique in that it is the first time in the genre Vocaloid software was utilized to render the female lead vocal in a similar timbre as the accompanying synthesized music.

HearJapan President Nathan Reaven says, "Japan is the birth place of video game culture and, of course, video game music. It is thrilling to see this well loved composition style is still going strong". He added, "we are thrilled to be doing our part to keep this style alive."

Individual tracks are priced at 150 yen each (about $1.50 US), full albums are discounted. Check it out here.

6.05.2009

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete is finally here on Blu-ray. FFVII:AC Complete includes nearly half an hour of new footage in the form of an extended director's cut, as well as: Reminiscence of FINAL FANTASY VII” Original Story Digest, On the Way to a Smile - Episode: Denzel Animated Film, Reminiscence of FINAL FANTASY VII Compilation” Story Digest, “Legacy of FINAL FANTASY VII” Featurette, and Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete Trailers. While there is no Final Fantasy XIII demo in the U.S. version, we do get an exclusive sneak peek at FINAL FANTASY XIII, which includes a nice variety of CG cut-scenes AND gameplay.

FFVII:AC Complete represents unrestrained beauty culminating the essence of the word "complete." The movie is bolder, crisper, longer, and more intense...it even sounds better. Within the first few seconds, you're immediately met with new scenes. Several characters get more camera time including Zack, Tseng, Elena, and Vincent. We even get more background behind Denzel's story (both in the movie and in his own 30-minute-long anime). The plot is also made a bit more clearer (especially on the topic of geostigma). That being said, those that had major issues with the clarity of the plot or the pacing and sequencing on the original Advent Children, may not be fully satisfied with this "improved" version.

Be that as it may, this is not your run-of-the-mill DVD to Blu-ray conversion or re-release...not by a longshot. The video quality is incredible and more details are added including blood and dirt. The battles are glorious and the sound quality plays no small role. In the final battle, the sound of swords clanging is flawless, especially sitting on my game chair. The harmony or dis-harmony of the resonant swish of Sephiroth's mammoth masamune sword and Cloud's tricked out buster sword is spine-chilling. Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete has undeniably got my seal of approval.

Advent Children, of course, takes place two years after Sephiroth's attempts at mass genocide, and a disease, geostigma, that threatens the very core of mankind. Ex-SOLDIER Cloud, who walked away from the life of a hero to live in solitude, must step forward yet again...

6.04.2009

Otakon announces one of two Sunday musical performances - American singer/songwriter Becca, also known as Becca-chan, an up-and-coming artist who is gaining international fans. Becca moved from her home in Portland, Oregon, to Los Angeles to begin writing and recording songs with Meredith Brooks. After spending some months developing her sound, she began to play live shows along the West Coast. Becca’s high-energy live performances began to grab the attention of the music industry and many new fans.

By late 2007, Becca was offered a record deal by Sony Music. In June 2008, Becca debuted her first EP in Japan. Since then, she has performed at the famous Japanese music festival, Summersonic. She has released a second EP, and her first full album, “Alive!!”, debuted at #2 on the international charts in Japan on November 5. Her single “I’m Alive!” not only topped the international single charts, but made her the only international artist to rank in the top 100 of Japan’s overall single charts.

6.03.2009

The cryptic clues from the Famitsu interview is finally revealed at E3 2009. Kojima himself just announced "Metal Gear Solid: Rising" for the PS3, PC, and...Xbox 360. No other details were revealed except that it's a whole new experience and rather than starring Solid Snake, will star Raiden *cue fangirl squeal*.

Though I have to say my heart skipped a beat when I first heard Xbox 360...I could almost here the dying scream of "Noooooo" coming out of me for fear of the word "exclusive." Be that as it may, release dates are still TBA. Watch this space for more info.

6.02.2009

Don't ask me why, but I've always wanted my very own Robbie...as deranged as that may sound. And perhaps any other avid Silent Hill fan would understand - the thought of having Robbie sit on the edge of my bed looking so sinister pointing at you. My sister, for years, has always been on the look out to find me my Robbie, and Etsy has just the ticket.

This Robbie Rabbit Plush from Silent Hill is about 14 inches tall, excluding the ears, and is very reminiscent of our special bunny. It's no wonder that Robbie sold out very quickly. I think I was able to get the last one they had. [Source: Tomopop]

6.01.2009

Baltimore, MD (June 16, 2009) – VAMPS, featuring HYDE and K.A.Z, have added a special appearance at Otakon 2009 to their busy tour schedule. The duo had already announced a special concert in Baltimore on Thursday, 16 July 2009, to coincide with Otakon.

Originally, HYDE and K.A.Z were to depart early Friday for their next concert, meaning they would not be available for any convention appearances. Otakon had arranged for members to submit questions for the band, and the original plan was to answer them via video, and show the video at the convention. However, the groundswell of support from Otakon's membership led the band to reconsider, and in the end VAMPS decided a more personal response was warranted.

"I guess we must have made a good impression on HYDE a few years ago," said Jim Vowles, Otakon's head of Guests, Industry, and Press Relations, referring to HYDE's appearance with L'Arc~en~Ciel in 2004.

"We were delighted to find that he and K.A.Z were interested in working Otakon into their tour. We were able to work out a special pre-Otakon appearance and a bit of cross promotion. When the responses started coming in, I guess everyone got excited. We're delighted and flattered that they changed plans to meet the fans."

Exclusively for Otakon members, VAMPS will give out special passes at their SONAR show on Thursday. These passes will grant priority access to the band's panel and autograph sessions at Otakon on Friday afternoon. (You must be registered for Otakon to attend the panel and autograph sessions.)

Otakon also plans to make special arrangements for pre-registration pickup on Thursday to allow concert ticket holders to pick up their Otakon badges early without missing the concert. (Otakon allows pre-registered members to pick up their badges Thursday evening, prior to the convention.) Details will be posted on the Otakon Web site in the coming weeks.

VAMPS will appear at Baltimore's SONAR on 16 July 2009. The autograph session and Q&A panel will take place on Friday afternoon, 17 July 2009, at the Baltimore Convention Center. For ticket information for the SONAR concert, please visit http://www.vampsliveusa.com/

I'm always on the look out for something bold and new and I've been waiting for another Playstation 3 title that will wow me. inFAMOUS may be the one to deliver on that. After a short cutscence of a city-wide explosion, you are thrust in the shoes of Cole, a bicycle messenger, who's about to wake up from his coma to find a very different world. He finds that things aren't in the best conditions, in fact, it's in pretty bad shape. The federal government has quarantined the city leaving people in the hands of a deadly plague and where gangs have seized control of Empire City.

But that isn't to say that Cole is completely helpless. For he has gained the ability to shoot lightning bolts from his hands. His electricity-based powers are new and refreshing. It ups the ante in quality pairing a cool idea with great ease of controls and seamless movement. You can really feel Cole's agility and wide range of movements as you jump, climb, run from building to train track to building.

The story is solid with incredible character development and excellent pacing. The more you progress in the game, the deeper you get immersed in it. And what's more, inFAMOUS is truly an open-world. Rather than being confined to static storylines, you have choices to make and those moral choices are up to you. Will you become the hero and bring salvation to all? Or will you harness your anger and seek pure revenge?

inFAMOUS is whole-heartedly, one freaking incredible game! I can't wait to get home and see how this ends.

About

Previews, News, Reviews, and Convention Reports of all things Japan, from the perspective of a crazed self-proclaimed Otaku -- from Anime to Manga to J-music to Video Games to Figures to Fashion to Culture. A plethora of goodies for the novice to the veteran fan and everyone else in between.